Clear Thinking

The Book in One Sentence

The clearest thinkers spend more time defining the problem - the ROOT problem, rather than rushing to solutions.

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3 Big Ideas for Making Better Decisions

1) Define the ROOT problem.

"Defining the problem starts with identifying two things: (1) what you want to achieve, and (2) what obstacles stand in the way of getting it.

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You must work hard to identify the root cause of the problem. Don't be content with simply treating its symptoms.
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To make sure you've gotten to the root, ask yourself: What would have to be true for this problem not to exist in the first place?"

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2) DO NOT RUSH to find solutions.

“Action-oriented teams will likely spend only a moment or two defining the problem and the rest of the meeting trying to solve it.

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They waste their time finding the solutions to surface-level issues, rather than the root cause.
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To combat your tendency to rush to solutions, hold 2 separate meetings: 1 to clearly define the problem, and 1 to come up with the solution.

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3) Avoid using Binary Thinking.

“Don't narrow your solutions down to just two options - this is Binary Thinking.

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The best decision makers see binary thinking as a sign that we don't fully understand the problem.​
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​Use the 3+ Principle: Force yourself to explore at least 3 possible solutions to a problem. This forces you to be creative and really dig into the problem.